The WNBA world was confused on Thursday when news broke that former UConn women’s basketball standout Gabby Williams was placed on the full-season suspended list by the Chicago Sky, where she’s played her entire career since being drafted in 2018.
Why would the Sky suspend Williams? What role did Williams’ international commitments play in the decision, and what does this mean for Williams’ future?
On Friday afternoon, Sky head coach/general manager James Wade declined to answer media questions about anything other than practice in response to a reporter’s question about whether Wade and Williams had met in Chicago. Here’s what we know about the situation so far.
What does a full-season suspension mean?
A player on the full-season suspended list does not get paid and their salary is no longer on their team’s cap sheet. In this case, Williams had an unprotected $70,040 salary for the entire season.
A full-season suspended player also can’t play in the league at all this season, even for another team.
Is this a disciplinary suspension?
No, it is not. It is not unusual for WNBA players to get put on the suspended list, either for a full season or on a temporary basis.
Why did the Sky do this in the first place?
This move didn’t completely come out of nowhere. Wade told Annie Costabile of the Chicago Sun-Times that the French Federation of Basketball notified him last month that they wanted Williams to compete for the French national team this summer heading into the Olympic Games in Tokyo.
Williams is one of 14 players the French are bringing in to start training for this summer’s EuroBasket competition. The French team’s preparations go from May 16-June 6, then EuroBasket runs June 17-27.
“[Playing for the French national team] is something Gabby has wanted to do, and we’re supportive of her,” Wade told Costabile on WNBA draft night.
France hasn’t finalized its Olympic roster yet. Should Williams make the cut, she would be tied up with international commitments through the middle of August. By the time she’d return to the United States, the Sky would have 12 games left in their regular season following the WNBA’s Olympic break. She also would have been late to training camp given her overseas team, Sopron, finished playing in the Hungarian finals on May 4.
Further complicating the matter is the Sky’s salary cap situation. They can only carry 11 players to start the season (rather than the standard 12), meaning if Williams would be absent but remain on the roster, they’d only have 10 available players for the bulk of the regular season.
What was Williams’ role in Chicago?
Williams has been a key part of the Sky’s rotation over the last few years, starting 30 games her rookie season before becoming a regular contributor off the bench the last two seasons. In three years with Chicago, she’s averaged 6.8 points, 3.4 rebounds, 1.9 assists and 1.2 steals in 20.8 minutes per game.
Williams had a particularly strong overseas season with Sopron in Hungary, earning All-EuroLeague First Team and Defensive Player of the Year honors.
Prior to her suspension, Williams was set to become a free agent in 2022, her rookie contract expiring after the Sky exercised a fourth-year option.
How has Williams reacted?
Williams hasn’t said anything publicly about the move to this point, but some of her Tweets imply that she’s not happy about what’s transpired.
Others who know her seem upset with the move, tweeting #FreeGabby and #FreeMochaTrap (a nickname of hers).
Costabile previously reported on draft night that the Sky were considering trade options featuring Williams, though they didn’t go through with any of them. Given that and what’s happened this week, some are speculating we’ve seen the last of Williams in Chicago.
Something to note: Even if Williams ends up getting traded this summer, she still cannot play in 2021 after being fully suspended.
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